Welcome to
Table Talk
Table Talk helps children and adults explore the
Bible together. Each day provides a short family
Bible time which, with your own adaptation, could work for ages 4 to 12. It includes
optional follow–on material which takes the passage further for older children. There are
also suggestions for linking Table Talk with XTB children’s notes.
Who can use
Table Talk?

• Families
• One adult with one child
Table Talk
A short family Bible time for daily
use. Table Talk takes about five
minutes, maybe at breakfast,
or after an evening meal. Choose
whatever time and place suits you
best as a family. Table Talk includes
a simple discussion starter or
activity that leads into a short
Bible reading. This is followed
by a few questions.

• A teenager with a younger
brother or sister
• Children’s leaders with their groups
• Any other mix that works for you!

XTB
XTB children’s notes help 7-11 year olds to get
into the Bible for themselves.They are based on
the same Bible passages as Table Talk.
You will find suggestions for how XTB can be
used alongside Table Talk on the next page.

In the next three pages you’ll find suggestions for how to use Table Talk, along with hints
and tips for adapting it to your own situation. If you’ve never done anything like this
before, check out our web page for further help (go to www.thegoodbook.co.uk and click
on Daily Reading) or write in for a fact sheet.

THE SMALL PRINT
Table Talk is published by The Good Book Company, 37 Elm Road, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3HB
Tel: 0845 225 0880. www.thegoodbook.co.uk email: Alison@thegoodbook.co.uk Written by Alison Mitchell
and Mark Tomlinson. Fab pictures by Kirsty McAllister. Bible quotations taken from the Good News Bible.
AUSTRALIA: Distributed by Matthias Media. Tel: (02) 9663 1478; email: info@matthiasmedia.com.au

HOW TO USE

Table Talk
DAY 1

What shall we do?

Table Talk is designed to last for up to three months.
How you use it depends on what works for you. We
have included 65 full days of material in this issue,
plus some more low-key suggestions for another 26
days (at the back of the book). We would like to
encourage you to work at establishing a pattern of
family reading. The first two weeks are the hardest!

KEYP O I N T
When the people heard Peter’s
speech, they asked, “What shall
we do?” Read Acts 2v38-39

K EY P O I NT
This is the main point you
should be trying to convey.
Don’t read this out—it often
gives away the end of the story!

Today’s passages are:
Table Talk : Acts 2v38-39
XTB : Acts 2v37-40

TABLE
TALK

READ

TALK

DO

PRAY

Recap: Look
again at yesterday’s five points
from Peter’s speech.
When the people heard Peter’s speech,
they asked, “What shall we do?” Read
Acts 2v38-39
Peter told them to repent. What does
that mean? (To repent doesn’t just mean
saying sorry. It means asking God to
help you to change, and to do what He
says.) What two things did Peter say
would happen? (Their sins will be
forgiven, they’ll be given the gift of the
Holy Spirit.)
Use the illustration in Notes for Parents
(on the previous page) to show how
Jesus rescues us from our sins.
Verse 39 means that this promise is for
us too—even though we live 2000 years
after Peter! Thank God for sending Jesus
so that you can be forgiven.

Building up
The apostles had the task of telling others about
Jesus. Some of them also wrote the books that make
up the New T. But what
if they forgot some of what they had seen or
heard? Or didn’t understand it? Read John
14v25-26 to see how the Holy Spirit helped them.
Thank God for making sure that what the apostles
taught and wrote down about Jesus was true and
accurate.

Table Talk is based on the same Bible
passages as XTB, but usually only asks
for two or three verses to be read out
loud. The full XTB passage is listed at
the top of each Table Talk page. If you are using Table Talk with older
children, read the full XTB passage rather than the shorter version.

The main part of Table Talk is designed to be suitable for younger children.
Building Up includes more difficult questions designed for older children, or
those with more Bible knowledge.
As far as possible, if your children are old enough to read the
Bible verses for themselves, encourage them to find the answers in
the passage and to tell you which verse the answer is in. This will
help them to get used to handling the Bible for themselves.
The Building Up section is optional. It is designed to build on the passage
studied in Table Talk (and XTB). Building Up includes some additional
questions which reinforce the main teaching point, apply the teaching
more directly, or follow up any difficult issues raised by the passage.

Linking with XTB
The XTB children’s notes are based on the same passages as Table Talk. There are a
number of ways in which you can link the two together:
• Children do XTB on their own. Parents then follow these up later (see suggestions below).
• A child and adult work through XTB together.
• A family uses Table Talk together at breakfast. Older children then use XTB on their own later.
• You use Table Talk on its own, with no link to XTB.

FOLLOWING UP XTB
If your child uses XTB on their own it can be helpful to ask them later to show you (or tell
you) what they’ve done. Some useful starter questions are:
• Can you tell me what the reading
was about?
• Is there anything you didn’t
understand or want to ask about?

• Did anything surprise you in
the reading? Was there
anything that would have
surprised the people who first
saw it or read about it?

• What did you learn about God,
Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
• Is there anything you’re going to
do as a result of reading this
passage?

Table Talk is deliberately not too
ambitious. Most families find it quite
hard to set up a regular pattern of
reading the Bible together—and
when they do meet, time is often
short. So Table Talk is designed to
be quick and easy to use, needing
little in the way of extra materials,
apart from pen and paper now and
then.

BUT!!
Most families have special times
when they can be more ambitious,
or do have some extra time
available. Here are some
suggestions for how you can use
Table Talk as the basis for a
special family adventure...

Have an

adventure!
FOOD!
Eat some food linked with the passage
you are studying. For example Manna
(biscuits made with honey, Exodus
16v31), Unleavened bread or
Honeycomb (Matthew 3v4—
but don’t try the locusts!)

DISPLAY AREA
We find it easier to remember and understand what
we learn when we have something to look at. Make
a Table Talk display area, for pictures, Bible verses
and prayers. Add to it regularly.

VIDEO

PICNIC
Take Table Talk with you on a family picnic.
Thank God for His beautiful Creation.

WALK
Go for a walk together. Stop
somewhere with a good view and
read Genesis 1v1—2v4.

A wide range of Bible videos are available—from
simple cartoon stories, to whole Gospels filmed with
real life actors. (Your local Christian bookshop
should have a range.) Choose one that ties in with
the passages you are reading together. Note: Use
the video in addition to the Bible passage, not
instead of it!

GETTING TOGETHER
Invite another family for a meal, and to read
the Bible together. The children could make a
poster based on the passage.

MUSEUM
Visit a museum to see a display from Bible
times. Use it to remind yourselves that the Bible
tells us about real people and real history.

HOLIDAYS
Set aside a special time each day while
on holiday. Choose some unusual places to
read the Bible together—on the beach, up a
mountain, in a boat... Take some photos to put
on your Table Talk display when you get back
from holiday.
You could try one of the special holiday editions
of XTB and Table Talk—Christmas Unpacked,
Easter Unscrambled and Summer Signposts.

PRAYER DIARY
As a special project, make a family prayer
diary. Use it to keep a note of
things you pray for—and the
answers God gives you. This
can be a tremendous help to
children (and parents!) to learn
to trust God in prayer as we
see how He answers over time.
Go on—try it!

DRAMA OR PUPPETS
Take time to dramatise a Bible story. Maybe act it
out (with costumes if possible) or make some simple
puppets to retell the story.
Enough of the introduction, let’s get going...

DAYS 36-50

DAY 36

Notes for Parents

1,2,3, Go!
K EY P O I NT
Paul wants to tell others about
what Jesus has given to those
who believe in Him.

EXPLORING EPHESIANS
Over the next 15 days, we are
taking a look at Paul’s letter to
the Christians in Ephesus.
When we write letters today,
they tend to be much shorter than
this one. In Paul’s time, there were no telephones, or
email and even the transport was very different
from today. It is probably true to say that letters
were sent less often, but were longer. They would
have been delivered by hand and taken a long time
to arrive.

When Paul wrote a letter to his friends or a specific
church, he always had a purpose in mind. It may
have been to:
• Encourage them
• Put them right about something

READ

• Discipline them (correct and train them)
• Warn them
• Teach them something specific about Jesus or God
• Remind them about something important

TALK

His letters often included several of these.
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians contains many very
big ideas, which could get you a bit ‘bogged’
down. It is very important that you concentrate on
some of the overall themes of the letter, rather than
every bit of detail. Don’t be distracted.
In this series we are going to look at the first half of
Ephesians, chapters 1-3. They help us to see the
importance of unity in the church through what
Jesus has done on the cross. Paul explains what
God has done through Jesus in bringing together
Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) in His church, for His
praise and glory.

EPHESUS FACT FILE
This city was the most important one in the
region (now known as Turkey). It was a
harbour and the centre of the major, thriving,
trade route. The city was made up of a diverse
group of people from all over the region.
Look at an atlas and find Izmir (Smyrna) in
Turkey. The ruins of Ephesus are near here.

THINK

PRAY

What kinds of post can you
get? (Letters, postcards,
parcels, bills, leaflets.) How does it feel
when you get post? Over the next 15
days we are looking at a letter written by
Paul to a church at Ephesus. (See Notes
for Parents to find out about it.)
When you write a letter to someone, how
do you start it? How do you end it?
Paul’s letter is a little different.
Read Ephesians 1v1-3
How was Paul’s letter different? (v1)
(Starts with who it is from; addressed to
God’s people.) Your Bible may say
‘Saints’ in v1. This means everyone who
believes and trusts in Jesus. Why did Paul
write letters to God’s people? (Check out
some reasons in Notes for Parents.)
What are some reasons why you write
letters? (Encourage someone, remind
them of something, thank them...) Paul
was so excited about God’s kindness in
what Jesus had done, that he had to write
about it! What does Paul say God has
given us? (v3) (Every spiritual blessing—
that’s the good things God gives us
because of Jesus.) We’ll find out more
about exactly what those blessings are in
the next few days.
Dear God, thank you for loving us so
much and sending Jesus so we can be in
your family. Help us to tell
others about you. Amen

Building up
Read the Ephesus Fact File in Notes for
Parents to find out more about Ephesus.

DAY 37

DAY 38

Chosen children

Notes for Parents

K EY P O I N T
God chose us to be His
followers, before we were
even born.
Today’s passages are:
Table Talk: Ephesians 1v4-6
XTB: Ephesians 1v4-6

TABLE
TALK

READ

TALK

THINK

If you could choose anyone to be your
best friend, who would you choose? (It
could be someone famous.) Why would
you choose them? Draw a picture of
them (or cut one out and stick it). Around
the picture, write why you would choose
them. (Keep this for Day 41.)

GRACE
• When God gives us what we don’t deserve.
• Grace is God’s HUGE kindness to people who
don’t deserve it.
• An undeserved gift.
(Throughout Days 36-50)

MERCY
Read Ephesians 1v4-6
Who chose us and when? (v4) (God,
before the world was made!) What did
He choose us to be? (v4) (Holy and
without fault—see Notes for
Parents, Day 38.) What else are we?
(v5) (His sons/children, through Jesus.)
Spend a minute thinking about your
friends and why they are your friends. Is
it because they are nice, good, kind,
friendly, clever, or for other reasons?
God has NOT chosen us because we are
really nice or good—but because He
WANTED to!

PRAY

GREAT NEW WORDS
As you work through Ephesians together, you
will come across some Great New Words.
Below is an explanation for each, together with
a symbol to help you. Understanding these
words will be a big help in getting to grips with
God and His great plan.

• When God does not give us what we deserve.
• God’s decision to help us and not treat us the way
we deserve.
(Day 44)

SALVATION
• To be saved, by Jesus, through His death and
resurrection.
(Throughout Days 36-50)

HOLY (and BLAMELESS)

100%

• To be seen as special in God’s eyes, perfect and as
if you had NEVER done anything wrong. (Day 37)

REDEEM / REDEMPTION
• The price to pay for someone’s freedom or rescue.
• To pay for something, which used to belong to you,
so you can own it again.
(Day 38)

Being God’s children is one of the
amazing spiritual blessings we have
because of Jesus.

GOSPEL

Dear God, you’re wonderful. You’ve
given us every spiritual blessing
because of Jesus. Thank you. Amen

• To bring people back together again.
• To mend a relationship, which has been broken.

• The good news about Jesus and what He has done.
(Day 40)

RECONCILE

(Day 45)

REVELATION / REVEAL

Building up
How do we know that God has chosen
us?—because we believe in Jesus. Read
John 1v12-13. Have you been chosen by
God to be one of His children? (If you have
put your trust in Jesus—you have!)

• To make sense of something.
• For God to make something understood, about
Himself.
(Day 41)

DAY 38

DAY 39

Free and forgiven

A grand plan

K EY P O I N T
Jesus’ death on the cross was
the payment needed to give us
freedom and forgiveness.

K EY P O I NT
God’s rescue plan will eventually
result in a whole new world with
Jesus in charge.

Get two pieces of string
three feet long with loops at
each end. One piece for
each person. Put your
hands through the loops
(like handcuffs) but make
sure your string comes between your partners
string and his/her body so that you’re
connected. Now get separated without a)
taking the string off or b) breaking the string!

Explain that being tied together is like
being a slave. Being set free can only
happen if you have the answer.
Answer: Take your piece of string
through your partner’s loop and over
his/her wrist.

In our passage today we can see another
plan, which involves a mystery and a
fantastic end result. To get to that end
result involves a cross as well.
Read Ephesians 1v9-10

THINK

God wants you to know His secret plan! It
will be completed because God has dealt
with sin already. How did He do it?

The answer to the game was quite easy.
But God says we are trapped by sin so
that we are separated from God. This is
like being a slave. Read Ephesians
1v7-8 to see how we can be set free.
Use Notes for Parents to check the
meaning of another great word—
Redemption. What was the price for
us to be set free? (v7) (Jesus’ sacrificial
death—this means His death on the
cross). Just like the game, we can’t work
out how to get free of sin. We can’t free
ourselves. But God has done it for us.
Paul loves to praise God for the things He
has done. It’s a good pattern to follow, so
praise God for Jesus dying on the cross
and giving us freedom and forgiveness.

Draw a treasure map
and put a cross (X)
where the treasure is
buried. (Keep it for
later.) If it was a real
map you wouldn’t find
the treasure until you found the X. The
map becomes the secret plan.

(Solve the
mystery)

Jesus + (

✝ ) ________

= (NIS) _________ Forgiven
The final plan will come true in the future,
when God makes a new world, where
no sin will exist! Who will be in charge
at the centre of everything? (v10—Jesus)
DO

PRAY

On the bottom of your treasure map
write, "God’s plans always happen!"
Thank you Father that your plans always
come true. Thank you that one day Jesus
will be in charge of everyone and
everything in a perfect world. Amen.

Building up
Building up
Think about the difference between being a
slave and being free. Make a list of these
differences. Which is the best way to live?

The worst thing about a mystery or secret
plan is not being able to work it out. But God’s
Secret plan isn’t a mystery. Read Ephesians
1 v 10 again to remind yourself what it is.

DAY 40

DAY 41

It’s for you

More to explore

K EY P O I N T
God keeps His promises, and to
prove it He’s given His Holy Spirit
to those who believe in Jesus.

(You need paper, pencil, a candle,
matches and a small coin, e.g. 5p.)
Write a short letter, making a promise to
do something (e.g. help make your bed,
wash the car). Melt some candle wax
onto the bottom of the letter and push
the coin into it before it goes hard.
Then remove the coin.
This is called sealing a letter and it
confirms that what is said will happen. In
the past, families had their own seal so
others would know who had made the
promise. It was a stamp of ownership.

READ

TALK

PRAY

Our passage today talks about God’s
promise and His stamp of ownership—
His seal. Read Ephesians 1v13-14
Who did we hear about saving us?
(v13) (Jesus) What kind of news is this?
(v13) (Good news. Some Bibles use the
word “Gospel”—which means Good
News.) Having believed, what was
given? (v13) (The Holy Spirit.) He is a
stamp of ownership/seal, to make sure
we know God will keep His promises.
Having God’s stamp of ownership in
your life, the Holy Spirit, is the best thing
in the world. If you are a Christian thank
God for giving you His Holy Spirit to
help you and to guarantee His promises.

Building up
Can you think of any promises God has
made in the Bible? Try looking up some of
these: John1v12; John 3v15; Hebrews
13v5. What’s the difference between God’s
promises and any we might make?

TABLE
TALK

READ

TALK

THINK

PRAY

Get together some of the symbols and
objects to do with the last five days and
recap some of the things learnt. (E.g. best
friends picture; a wrapped present; two
pieces of string; treasure map; a cross; a
sealed letter.)
Paul starts this next part of Ephesians,
"For this reason …". He is saying that
because of all the things we’ve learnt over
the last five days, he does something…
Read Ephesians 1v15-17 (Check
out Day 38 for what ‘revelation’ means.)
Paul gave thanks for the Christians at
Ephesus. What exactly does he thank
God for? (v15) (Their faith and their
love.) What does he pray for them? (v17)
(That the Spirit will make them wise and
reveal God to them.) Why does he pray
for this for them? (v17) (So they will
know God better.)
The things Paul has written are true for all
Christians. Think of two friends who you
could thank God for because of their faith
in Jesus and love for others. Think of two
friends who you could pray for, so they
would know God better.
Pray for
your friends.

Building up
Sometimes it is hard being a Christian but
Ephesians 1v19-20 tells us how and why we
can keep going. What do we have? (v19)
(God’s power) And what is it the same as? (v20)
(It is the same power that raised Jesus from the
dead.) How does that make you feel?

BEFORE AND AFTER
Below is a short summary of the situation
each of us is in before and after accepting
what Jesus has done through His death on the
cross and resurrection from the dead. The Bible
makes each of these clear.

(You need paper and pencil.) Imagine
you have the power to do anything (the
same power as God) for one day. What
would you do? Make a chart, headed
"Power", with two columns. Title the first
column, "My Power", and list the things
you would do.

BEFORE

Most of us would be quite selfish if we
had God’s power for a day, but God is
very different. He is unselfish. He uses His
power to help us.
Read Ephesians 1v19-23
(Some hard ideas here—we’ll just pick
out a few key ones.)

• Following the ways of the world – We rebel against
God’s instructions and standards and instead, are
influenced by the standards and ways of living set
by those around us.

• How did God show His great power in
Jesus? (v20—raised Him from the
dead.)
• Who does Jesus rule over? (v21—all
powers in heaven and earth.)

We are:

• Dead in sin – This is the situation EVERYONE is in,
relating to God.
• Facing God’s anger – God cannot stand sin. He
gets angry because it separates people, whom He
loves, from Him. He MUST punish those who won’t
deal with their sin and rebellion.

• God’s enemy – If we are not FOR God, we are
AGAINST Him. There is no in-between.
• Slaves to the devil – If we are not in God’s family,
the devil is our master, whether we realise it or not.
• Selfish in doing what we want – We think we are
rulers of our own lives, making our own decisions.
But although some things may work out, many
things will go wrong.

• What does Jesus rule over? (v22—
everything.)
• Who does Jesus help? (v22—the
church, us.)
Put these answers in your "Power" chart
in the second column, titled, "God’s
Power".

DO

PRAY

Praise God for the power
He’s given Jesus for our
benefit.

Building up
In v23, Paul says the church (Christians) is
Christ’s body. Read 1 Corinthians
12v12-27, to see how important every part
of the body of Jesus is. That’s all of us who
believe and trust in Jesus!

AFTER

We are:

• Alive in Jesus – This means we are alive spiritually
and have a relationship with God, as members of
His family.
• Shown God’s mercy and saved by God – We will
no longer have to be punished, as we deserve.
• Able to stand up for Jesus and follow His example
– Realising all that God has done for us through
Jesus, we live our lives to please Him.
• God’s children – This is the promise that we have
from God. It is not a ‘maybe’, but a ‘definitely’.
• Free in Jesus to love and serve – Instead of being
slaves and tied up, we are free to do all the things
God wants us to, especially to love and serve
other people.

DAY 43

DAY 44

Before...

Amazing grace

K EY P O I N T
Paul reminds the Ephesians what
they were like before they
followed Jesus.

Dress up as scruffy as you can. Put on
clothes that don’t match and even mess
up your hair (if you’ve got some!). How
would you feel going to meet the Queen
like this? Would they let you in?
Today’s passage is a bit like you dressing
scruffy for the Queen—but it’s to do with
your life stopping you being God’s
friend. Read Ephesians 2v1-3
What were the Ephesians like because of
their sins? (v1) (Dead) They weren’t
physically dead, but it means they were
separated from God and the eternal life
He gives. Whose ways did they follow?
(v2) (The world’s and the devil’s.)
What kind of things do we do which are
not God’s ways? These things make us
God’s enemies. What will we face? (v3)
(God’s anger/wrath.)
But remember that Jesus came to save us
from God’s anger at sin. More about
that tomorrow.

PRAY

TABLE
TALK

READ

TALK

THINK

Ask God to help you to live His way and
say sorry for the things which you know
you have done wrong.

PRAY

Dress as smart as you can—we will say
why later. Look back to Day 38 and
Notes to Parents to check out the
explanation for Grace and Mercy.

Remember how we left the Ephesians
yesterday… dead in their sins, following
the devil’s and the world’s ways, and
being separated from God. Today we see
how things can change.
Read Ephesians 2v4-6
What does Paul say we are? (v5) (Alive
in Christ.) That sounds much better than
being dead in our sins! What three things
have made this possible? (v4-5) (God’s
love, mercy and grace.) Where does
God raise us to? (v6) (Sits us with Jesus.)
Today, wearing our smartest clothes, gives
us a picture of what God does for us.
God loves us so much that He makes us
clean from all the wrong things in us and
makes us a new person. The picture of us
sitting with Jesus in heaven means we will
go to heaven and live with Him forever.
It’s God who deserves the praise! If you
are a Christian, thank Him for saving you.

Building up
Building up
Think of some things which you could do
to show people that you follow God’s way
and not the world’s. Make sure that you do
some of these over the next few days.

Read Ephesians 2v8-10 What do the
verses say being saved is? (v8) (God’s gift) So,
what can’t we do? (v9) (boast)
Verse 10 says we are created like Jesus to do
good things. Think of some of the things you
could do for others and plan to do them.

DAY 45

Wallbreaker,
peacemaker

DAY 46

You belong

K EY P O I N T
Jesus’ death has broken the
barrier between people, and
also between people and God.

K EY P O I NT
Gentiles (non-Jews) can now
belong as members of God’s
family.

Get two chairs and a blanket and make a
barrier between you. Crouch down and
without speaking try to communicate
through the barrier.
This passage is talking about a barrier
between Jews and Gentiles (everyone
who isn’t a Jew). It wasn’t like a physical
wall. It was a barrier caused by the hate
they had for each other.
Read Ephesians 2v14-16
Who brought peace between Jews and
Gentiles? (v14) (Jesus) What has
happened to the barrier? (v14)
(Destroyed.) How has Jesus brought
peace? (v16) (By dying on the cross.)
What was His purpose? (v15) (To bring
them together as a new people and to
bring them peace with God.)

Pull the blanket down and lay a picture of
the cross (or your Bible) over the blanket
to show what Jesus has done.

PRAY

Thank God for breaking all barriers down
through Jesus and bringing peace. Ask
Him to help you keep peace with others.

Talk about being on holiday
in another country. What is it
like? What are the good
things and the bad things?
Being in another country is strange and
can be difficult to cope with. Paul says
the Ephesians were like foreigners in
another country. But now, because of all
that Jesus has done, the Ephesians are no
longer foreigners, but members of God’s
family. Read Ephesians 2v19-22
Because of Jesus, those who believe in
Him belong in God’s family, rather than
being strangers or foreigners. How does
Paul describe them? (v21) (A building
becoming a temple.) Paul says we are
like a building where the Holy Spirit lives.
(v22).
(Optional) Draw a church building using
big bricks. Now draw a different face on
each brick. Across the bottom write out
verse 22.
If we are being built together, how should
we treat each other? What can you do to
help others in God’s family?

PRAY

Thank God that Jesus makes us part of
God’s new people. Ask him to help you
to treat others in his family with kindness.

Building up
Building up
Read Ephesians 2v17-18. It says Jesus
preached peace to the Jews (those near) and
the Gentiles (those far away). What has this
given us? (v18) (Access to God. We have
this especially through prayer.) What could
you pray to God about?

Read Ephesians 2v20 again. What is the
foundation built of? (Built on apostles and
prophets teaching with Jesus as the
cornerstone.) Remember you are like a brick in
God’s building, the church. If Jesus is the
cornerstone—the most important part of God’s
people—we won’t fall apart.